Category: Politik

Chee Soon Juan: When The Reserves Go, The Economy Tanks And Everyone Goes With It

Dr Chee Soon Juan casted doubt on the PAP government’s ability to guard Singapore’s financial reserves during their house visits on Sunday, 16 August. Dr Chee contended, “Our message to [the voters] is that what we need is to make sure our reserves are being monitored [by a strong opposition].”

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) conducted their afternoon door-to-door visits at Bukit Timah. SDP activated more than 30 members and volunteers in cars and bicycles to cover a wide area of landed properties.

While acknowledging the different concerns those staying in this area may have, Dr Chee noted everyone will suffer together when the government “does not know what is going on” with the financial market. This is because of a lack of opposition presence in parliament.

Dr Chee cited the 2008 global financial crisis triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. “Between GIC and Temasek Holdings, we lost close to $120bn -$140bn,” he said.

He continued, “This is where I worry. In spite of the fact there were so many warning signals of the subprime crisis that was developing ahead, the government did not know what was going on and continued to plow in money to banks like Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, Bank of America, [and] Merrill Lynch.”

Dr Chee contended the opposition’s role is “to question and make sure every one of our investments in the Sovereign Wealth Funds is transparent and well-managed.”

Emphasizing the common destiny of Singaporeans of all income groups, Dr Chee encouraged the voters of Holland-Bukit Timah to support the SDP. “This is not about income. When the reserves go, the economy tanks. Everyone goes along with it.”

Ms Chong Wai Fung

Dr Chee also took the opportunity to introduce Ms Chong Wai Fung to the media despite being coy about whether she is running for office.

Ms Chong is currently the treasurer of SDP and heads the Women Democrats. She is a healthcare research analyst and holds two master’s degrees in Clinical Epidemiology and Business Administration.

Ms Chong noted that due to her job, she needs to be careful when commenting on healthcare issues publicly. Nevertheless, she had spoken at the “Free My CPF” rally and also actively champions women’s rights and issues.

Coverage in the mainstream media

Speaking exclusively to The Online Citizen, Dr Chee urged the mainstream media to report on its extensive policies because it is what the residents need to know. Dr Chee expressed his disappointment with the mainstream media’s lack of coverage on SDP’s proposals and alternative policy papers.

Rather than being solely focused on which areas the parties are contesting and which candidates might be fielded, the media should spend more time talking about reasons why each party should be voted.

Since 2011, the SDP has published annual shadow budgets, and presented several alternative policy papers on issues like population, housing, the economy, healthcare, and education. However, little of these were highlighted by the mainstream media.

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

August 18, 2015
GE2015: A Local Or National GE?

Preparations for the next General Election have begun in earnest. Some MPs have announced their retirement, while others have reaffirmed their commitment to continue serving the nation. Parties have begun announcing new candidates; and in a break from tradition, the incumbent has decided to introduce all new candidates before nomination day, giving them a chance to familiarise themselves with the electorate.

This move could be read as an indication from the incumbent that this GE would likely be a “local” election. In a recent Facebook post, potential Workers’ Party candidate and current NCMP Gerald Giam, shared his thoughts on this issue

As Giam has rightly pointed out, many constituents are happy with the municipal work done by their incumbent, and their votes would reflect their satisfaction. Considering the lack of a national platform for many MPs, the only real differentiating factor visible to residents is the “local” work done by the MPs.

Building strong bonds with constituents is certainly beneficial to any candidate. At the end of the day, regardless of the national issues, it is the residents within the constituency that decide who should be their MP, and if the incumbent has done a good job within the division, their chances of re-election are high.

As the campaigning heats up, the incumbents would certainly present their track record in managing the estate as a strong justification for re-election. Their ability to solve local issues, and provide their constituents with a safe and pleasant neighbourhood will certainly be a deciding factor; but I hope it is not the only one.

As a young nation, we are at an inflection point. Forces beyond our control have dictated that our region will be one of the key drivers of the global economy. Technological advancements have made some of Singapore’s traditional strengths redundant – offshore centres in lower cost countries can easily provide the professional services that Singapore has been a global leader at.

What worries me, is that many people have discussions regarding bread and butter issues, assuming our nation’s continued prosperity. Singapore’s success is not guaranteed, and as Mr. Lee Kuan Yew used to say, no one owes us a living.

I hope that we never forget that our current success is an anomaly, a product of visionary leadership and a hardworking, self-sacrificing population. I would like to see today’s politicians display the same determination and clarity of vision that our pioneer leaders displayed. And I hope that we citizens are ready to work hard and sacrifice to ensure that Singapore continues to beat the odds.

So on polling day, I will cast my vote for the party that has the most compelling and actionable vision for Singapore – a Singapore that I would be proud to leave for future generations and one that my parents would be proud I helped shape.

So parties it is time to convince me, and other voters, not only that you can keep my estate spotlessly clean but also that you have a vision for tomorrow.

Source: http://inconvenientquestions.sg

August 17, 2015
SDA’s Desmond Lim: Don’t Judge Me By My Language

He was ridiculed by netizens for his bad diction after an edited version of an old campaign video of his went viral on Facebook last week.

But Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim Bak Chuan, 47, said his command of the English language should not be used to judge his abilities to serve the residents.

Responding to the edited video, which used subtitles to make fun of Mr Lim’s diction, he told The New Paper: “Whoever did that, I don’t know what is his or her intention, but why go personal? You want to fault me, fault me on policy issues.

“I have been in politics for 23 years. I have spent my life serving people. No matter how bad my command of the language is, I don’t deserve such a treatment.”

Mr Lim was at the party’s walkabout at Punggol Plaza yesterday, where party members gave out brochures to residents.

SDA is contesting the six-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in the upcoming general elections.

The 55-second clip mocking Mr Lim was edited from a 2013 video titled “Why Vote For Desmond Lim?: SDA Punggol East By-Elections Online Rally”.

WATCH: Desmond Lim talks about ‘that’ video

Mr Lim, who is married and has a three-year-old son, said he was not hurt by the clip.

“I’m not bothered and concerned about what people think about me. I’m bothered about how I can help others,” he said.

“That’s the past. We cannot be run down by our past. If we are held on by our past, we cannot progress.”

He added that there are those who like to judge people despite not having met them personally.

“People can say anything. You can’t control them. There will be people who like me, there are those who don’t.”

Mr Lim said he has had problems speaking since a very young age.

He did not attend pre-school and started speaking only at age seven, when he could not even spell his own name or read from A to Z.

LATE DEVELOPER

“People thought it was a late development where you can talk when you grow older,” said Mr Lim, who is a principal engineer with a telco.

He said that his speaking disability was never diagnosed as his parents had been too poor to take him  to a doctor.

He overcame his challenges and went on to obtain a Masters in Engineering Management, despite taking five years instead of the usual three years for part-time study.

To help him understand the lecturers, he would draw pictures and write his notes in Chinese.

In response to the viral video,  a supporter has edited a 2011 YouTube video titled “Unlimited Belief” to explain why Mr Lim does not speak eloquently.

A friend of Mr Lim even likened him to a 2004 American Idol contestant, Mr William Hung, who became famous despite being mocked for his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin’s hit song “She Bangs” in the reality talent search programme.

In response, Mr Lim said: “I always believe I am who I am. You want to say I am Singapore’s William Hung, I’m okay.”

You want to say I am Singapore’s William Hung, I’m okay.

– Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim Bak Chuan on being compared to the American Idol contestant who was mocked for his off-key singing

Source: www.tnp.sg

August 17, 2015
Changes To Town Councils Act, Prompted By AIM Saga, Could Be Delayed

More than two years after a review was announced in May 2013, changes to the Town Councils Act (TCA) could be delayed if the elections are called.

This was revealed by the Minister of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan, who made the remarks last Thursday to the media but which were only reported on Monday, 17 August.

“Previously, I was hoping we can amend the Act within this year,” Mr Khaw said.

“But market talk is the election is just around the corner and, if so, I would not be able to meet this particular KPI (key performance indicator),” he added. “We have to wait until the next term of government.”

Khaw, Minister of MND

Mr Khaw is also the chairman of the People’s Action Party (PAP).

The review, Mr Khaw told Parliament in 2013, would include the councils’ duties and responsibilities in relation to HDB; the adequacy of their sinking funds and long-term financial sustainability; and the arrangements when town councils are handed over between MPs.

The review committee is being headed by the Senior Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan.

The review was called after a long debate took place when the Workers’ Party (WP) revealed that the computer system used by the former PAP-run Aljunied Town Council (ATC) in Aljunied GRC had been sold to a PAP-owned company, Action Information System (AIM).

AIM, with a paid-up capital of S$2, is headed by three former PAP members of parliament as directors. It does not seem to have any other staff, or a website.

Its mailing address is the same as the PAP’s headquarters in Bedok.

The computer system, which was being used by all PAP town councils, was built at a cost of some $25 million, but later sold to AIM for $140,000.

The co-ordinating chairman of the PAP town councils, Teo Ho Pin, explained that in 2010 [the PAP] had called an open tender to which AIM submitted the sole bid though five companies had collected the tender agreement.

After the system was sold to AIM, the 14 PAP town councils then leased back the system from it.

This raised questions about the transaction, which came just months before the elections of 2011 were called.

Former PAP stalwart and presidential candidate, Tan Cheng Bock, also queried the transactions, and said that they “beg a few questions… especially when the company may not serve, ‘due to material change’, an opposition ward.

Tan

“This software is developed using public funds by town councils. Is it right for the TCs to give up ownership in this manner?” he asked.

“So did the town councils as public institutions do the right thing, selling (the system) to a company owned by a political party with its own agenda?”

AIM also withdrew its services from the then new WP town council after the WP won the Aljunied GRC in the 2011 elections.

The public outcry over the saga – which many saw as being unfair to the WP – prompted the government to call for a review of the sale of the computer system.

The task was carried out by the Ministry of National Development (MND) itself which found no impropriety with the transaction, and said that “the AIM sale complied with regulations and there was no conflict of interest.”

However, the fact that the MND was the agency which carried out the review was also criticised, since the minister of the MND was also the chairman of the PAP which owned AIM.

A Straits Times report then said:

“It gave the all-clear, but some remain unconvinced by the finding that the deal is above board, MPs and experts said.

“One point of contention is why the company, Action Information Management (AIM), would take on a loss-making venture in 2010.

“AIM had said it was to help the PAP town councils, which had no takers for a near-obsolete software programme.

“But some think “this is too good to be true”, said MP Baey Yam Keng of Tampines GRC.

“While many were not surprised by the findings, most of the 50 polled felt that having the MND do the review affected public perception of the report’s finding, even if it was wholly objective.”

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

August 17, 2015
Radin Mas Residents: Reform Party In For Tough Fight

The Reform Party (RP) seeks the support of residents in Radin Mas so its candidate can speak up on issues relating to Central Provident Fund savings in Parliament.

Its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam went on a walkabout in the single-member constituency yesterday.

It contains the old Anson ward that his father, the late opposition leader J. B. Jeyaretnam, represented in Parliament after winning the Anson by-election in 1981.

The RP team has been walking the ground in Radin Mas since 2010 but did not contest there in 2011 to avoid a three-cornered fight with the National Solidarity Party.

Hawker Philip Tan, 58, who has been selling fishball noodles at Block 163, Bukit Merah Central, for about 35 years, felt it would be a tough fight for the RP as “the PAP is deeply rooted here”.

Mr Tan said: “The current MP Sam Tan has done a lot for the hawkers. For example, he fought for lower rental for first-generation hawkers like me.”

Resident Annie Tan, 40, said: “The issues raised by the RP concern most Singaporeans. But it is not easy for an opposition party to be elected into Parliament.”

Joining the RP on its walkabout yesterday was lawyer M. Ravi, who said he is reconsidering his decision not to run in the upcoming general election after feedback from the public.

Mr Ravi and blogger Roy Ngerng have been joining the RP’s walkabouts in recent weeks, but both were also spotted at the Singapore Democratic Party’s 35th-anniversary dinner last Saturday.

Mr Ngerng was absent yesterday. When asked about Mr Ngerng’s application to join the party, Mr Jeyaretnam replied: “It’s always difficult to make the transition from blogging to being a politician.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 17, 2015